Attended the event on Homelessness and Mental Health last night, organized by Voices of Warringah @ Manly Life Saving Club.

A forum about vulnerable people, the bottom 4% of a bell curve. People in our community who don’t have a voice, and potentially don’t vote. People who are living rough, people with mental illness’, people with a disability, youth at risk.

It was encouraging to see people of our community and the expert panel who are working in this sector, most of whom I know personally throughout my 10 years of working in this space. It was great to hear Dean Harris, Labor candidate talking about Labors policies. The Q&A discussion talked about increasing issues and concerns, as well as looking at what is needed and what local strategies we need for the future.

When I arrived I was asked to do the Acknowledgement of Country, which I always do with pride. Last night I wanted that opportunity to be afforded to another candidate and after a quick discussion with Mr Harris he willingly accepted, and his Acknowledgement of Country was heartfelt and a meaningful way to begin the evening. I look forward to the other candidates being given the opportunity to Acknowledge Country.

-Susan Moylan-Coombs​Homelessness and Mental Health Forum​Voices of Warringah11 April 2019 - Manly Surf Life Saving Club

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Global warming caused by human activity is already having major impacts on our planet and is likely to make parts of the world uninhabitable, leading to migration, displacement and planned relocation.

Understanding migration in the context of climate change is not easy
It is of course more difficult to determine the role played by climate change in a specific situation given the interplay of political, social, demographic and economic factors.

Planning for new patterns of resettlement should be a high priority. It is becoming clear that resettlement models to destinations like Australia, are in need of a refresh.

​There is a sense of urgency when it comes to the threat of climate change globally. Within The Paris Agreement there are 29 Articles. In the opening text all parties agreed to a number of matters to ensure globally humans live more sustainable on our planet.

We need to change the way we live, we need to change the way we do business and we can do that by viewing everything we do not through GDP but through the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet then Profit.

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The context for Australia’s foreign aid program, and indeed all our international relations, is complex and fast changing.

We have our work cut out for us, right now, close to home and globally, to hold our own in an increasingly contested international arena.

Australians are right to expect from us a foreign aid program that makes the best possible use of our taxes, and responds skilfully to a fast-paced changing world to assist our neighbours.

But what does it look like to be a good neighbor, locally, nationally and internationally. Whilst I’m not religious, I recently spoke at an event organized by the Seaforth Baptist Church and Micah Australia and it is good to remind Christians about what their faith believe in.

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​Maybe an uncomfortable truth that perhaps rings true for many people.

Whilst I’m not religious, I have my own spiritual faith, I recently spoke at an event organized by the Seaforth Baptist Church and Micah Australia and it is good to remind Christians about what their faith believes in and what they do.

On the Micah Australia website there is a blog post that was published last year, February 13, 2018, titled: “Do Australian Christians ignore Indigenous justice for overseas justice?”

Cognitive Dissonance?

Whilst everyone is running around to find their tribe in Warringah, it would be courteous and compassionate to have a meaningful engagement and dialogue with the Original People of this land.